Then, we find these words in the Christian Science Monitor, 'Immigrants' are flocking in record numbers to IRS offices and seminars such as this one (Houston) to learn how to become legal US taxpayers.'

The first step was the 1996 creation of a taxpayer identification number by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for use by people who don?t have a Social Security number. The IRS declares this is good business. Its job is to collect taxes, not decide who is legal or illegal. Critics say this is bad business because it makes illegals more secure in their presence, albeit illegal presence. I say this is good business because it totally knocks down the argument that illegals don't pay taxes.

That is like saying that because some Americans cheat on their income tax that all Americans cheat on their income taxes. Some illegals don't pay income taxes, but do pay any and all state and local property and sales taxes. It is impossible to truthfully say that illegals don't pay taxes. It is, in fact, a blatant lie.

Some IRS-sponsored tax paying seminars are attended by as many as 500 people in Houston a night. "We had to do something," says Leandro Leon, education and communication director in the Houston IRS office. "These undocumented aliens were working here, using bogus Social Security numbers, and not reporting their income." Notice, he said 'not reporting their income,' not that they weren't paying taxes. If they weren't filing, that didn't stop their employers from issuing W-2 forms and collecting federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes for the government.

As for the argument by the Mexican-haters that these people don't make enough money to pay taxes, baloney. It doesn't matter what they make, they pay Social security taxes and Medicare taxes to the federal government, plus whatever income tax withholding they might incur. They pay state and local taxes regardless of what they make' THEY PAY TAXES, JUST LIKE WE ALL DO. Now, what part of that don't the Mexican-haters understand?

500 seminar attendees a night--those high numbers can be seen at seminars all across the US. The IRS has signed up 5.3 million such people newly acknowledged taxpayers, since the taxpayer ID program began in 1996.

Naturally, the Mexican-haters pooh-pooh the large movement by illegals to make their tax paying status normal and formal. "It does show how even talk of amnesty begins to affect behavior," says Steven Camarota, of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) in Washington. He believes anticipation of amnesty is motivating illegal immigrants to use tax paying so they can establish residency.

Camarota's CIS is a rabid anti-immigrant, anti- Mexican institution funded an directed by Dr. John Tanton who also founded the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR) with money from the Nazi- founded Pioneer Fund. Camarota claims his research shows that immigrants cost us more than they pay in taxes, but he conveniently ignores the fact that almost ALL people who receive government benefits receive more than they pay in taxes.

How typical of an anti-immigrant Mexican-hater to challenge the motives of people wanting to file their taxes properly and to get their refunds just like the rest of us. As usual, however, the illegals are one step ahead of the haters. By normalizing their tax paying status, they do squash one more lie that is spread by the CIS and fanatical Mexican-haters about the millions of illegals who work and live among us.

Then, we find these words in the Christian Science Monitor, 'Immigrants' are flocking in record numbers to IRS offices and seminars such as this one (Houston) to learn how to become legal US taxpayers.'

The first step was the 1996 creation of a taxpayer identification number by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for use by people who don?t have a Social Security number. The IRS declares this is good business. Its job is to collect taxes, not decide who is legal or illegal. Critics say this is bad business because it makes illegals more secure in their presence, albeit illegal presence. I say this is good business because it totally knocks down the argument that illegals don't pay taxes.

That is like saying that because some Americans cheat on their income tax that all Americans cheat on their income taxes. Some illegals don't pay income taxes, but do pay any and all state and local property and sales taxes. It is impossible to truthfully say that illegals don't pay taxes. It is, in fact, a blatant lie.

Some IRS-sponsored tax paying seminars are attended by as many as 500 people in Houston a night. "We had to do something," says Leandro Leon, education and communication director in the Houston IRS office. "These undocumented aliens were working here, using bogus Social Security numbers, and not reporting their income." Notice, he said 'not reporting their income,' not that they weren't paying taxes. If they weren't filing, that didn't stop their employers from issuing W-2 forms and collecting federal income taxes and Social Security and Medicare taxes for the government.

As for the argument by the Mexican-haters that these people don't make enough money to pay taxes, baloney. It doesn't matter what they make, they pay Social security taxes and Medicare taxes to the federal government, plus whatever income tax withholding they might incur. They pay state and local taxes regardless of what they make' THEY PAY TAXES, JUST LIKE WE ALL DO. Now, what part of that don't the Mexican-haters understand?

500 seminar attendees a night--those high numbers can be seen at seminars all across the US. The IRS has signed up 5.3 million such people newly acknowledged taxpayers, since the taxpayer ID program began in 1996.

Naturally, the Mexican-haters pooh-pooh the large movement by illegals to make their tax paying status normal and formal. "It does show how even talk of amnesty begins to affect behavior," says Steven Camarota, of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) in Washington. He believes anticipation of amnesty is motivating illegal immigrants to use tax paying so they can establish residency.

Camarota's CIS is a rabid anti-immigrant, anti- Mexican institution funded an directed by Dr. John Tanton who also founded the Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR) with money from the Nazi- founded Pioneer Fund. Camarota claims his research shows that immigrants cost us more than they pay in taxes, but he conveniently ignores the fact that almost ALL people who receive government benefits receive more than they pay in taxes.

How typical of an anti-immigrant Mexican-hater to challenge the motives of people wanting to file their taxes properly and to get their refunds just like the rest of us. As usual, however, the illegals are one step ahead of the haters. By normalizing their tax paying status, they do squash one more lie that is spread by the CIS and fanatical Mexican-haters about the millions of illegals who work and live among us.

I've read a couple of news stories and the recurring quote (right out of their mouths, though possibly through a translator) from the illegal aliens is that they think paying taxes will help them to get legal status. By the way "ElJefe" (ImmortalE?)--the IRS has started requiring that ITINs only be issued when the applicant files his income tax return. Why? Because tax returns were only submitted by about one-third of the 6 million or so people who had ITINs, suggesting that they were being used in lieu of SSNs for employers who didn't know or didn't want to know. So, we can figure roughly 4 million people were working, but not paying taxes. And try telling the IRS that you paid local taxes, Eljefe, and see if they let YOU off the hook of paying federal taxes, which are the really BIG tax bite.

And Eljefe--if Mexicans are so hot to pay taxes, why is it that only about 12 percent of the taxes owed the Mexican government by Mexicans are collected? The failure to collect taxes is a major factor behind the poor conditions in Mexico. Taxes would fund public education, including badly needed colleges and universities for a quarter million young Mexicans, as well as better infrastructure and public health.

When it comes down to it though, taxes are simply a way of raising revenues, and a thing apart from being accepted as a member of our society. I paid taxes to the Turkish government when I worked in Turkey. Does that make me a Turk?

My point is that this has nothing to do with the illegal at all. They did not make a conscious decision to pay taxes. Their employer just put them on the payroll instead of paying them under the table.

I wonder if they know that the Mexican government taxes its citizens on worldwide earnings? And that eventually the US and Mexico's taxing authorities will be sharing information? Guess dual citizenship wouldn't be quite so attractive then.